Infusion device with preformed shape

Abstract

Abstract An infusion guidewire or catheter for introduction through a selected path in a patient's vascular system to a site in a blood vessel and for infusing a drug or agent into the blood vessel. An elongated tubular body extends between a proximal and a distal end having an infusion device lumen (16) formed therein extending to a plurality of infusion ports (18) formed in a distal infusion segment (26) of the elongated tubular body. The distal infusion segment (26) is pre-biased to assume an infusion configuration when positioned in a blood vessel that tends to present the infusion port toward the blood vessel wall in a low blood flow rate zone and defining a generally centrally disposed perfusion lumen for perfusing blood therethrough. A core wire or a guidewire (30) is inserted through said infusion device lumen from said proximal end into said distal infusion segment (26) for changing the configuration to allow the advancement of the infusion device through the patient's vascular system to a desired site in a blood vessel and for allowing the distal infusion segment (26) to assume said infusion configuration on withdrawal of the core wire or guidewire (30) from the distal infusion segment (26).

Inventors

• 👤 George B. Wallace
• 👤 Scott M. Evans
• 👤 M. D. Andrew H. Cragg

Bibliographic Details